“Considering Reid Bosward’s position in the Barossa winemaking firmament, the prices for his consistently excellent Kaesler wines are astonishingly low.” – Vinous

Yeah, Vinous, $75 is “astonishingly low” for a highly rated old vine Shiraz. One with a cult following, and the winner of “Australia’s Best” at the Great Shiraz Challenge. Or maybe they mean the $50 you may see this “discounted” to out there.

But what if we got it down to $29??!

As the Aussies would say that’s WACKY! Or cooky. Mad as a cut snake. Gone off like a frog in a sock. You get the picture… WE DID JUST THAT!

Australian wine authority The Real Review has the nitty gritty: “Reid Bosward is one of the quietly influential people of the wine industry, a part-owner of two great wineries, Kaesler and Yarra Yering. Being Barossa-based, he is more closely associated with Kaesler, a long-established vineyard and winery on the Tanunda side of Nuriootpa, with a plum location on the Barossa’s arterial road… Reid studied enology at Adelaide University’s Roseworthy campus, where he was a classmate of Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago.”

Kaesler wines per Antonio Galloni’s Vinous again are “built along classic Barossa lines, showcasing intense, highly perfumed, and fruit-driven character, with weight and energy working in tandem. They also age wonderfully, but Bosward has a sure hand with tannin management, so the wines are seldom overstructured and can usually be enjoyed soon after release.”

And this puppy is ready to roll. With berries red, blue, and black galore, spiked by an exotic curry mix of sweet spices, cool climate notes of savory black olives, dried Mediterranean herbs, touches of earth and leather, dried flowers, graphite, you name it. Aromatically and flavorfully (yes, that’s a word) it strikes all the right chords, orchestrating a symphony for the senses…

For $29? So. Much. Wine. Then again, not much was imported.

95 Points – The Real Review

“Deep, dark and opaque in the glass. The aromas are dark and heady with plum, mulberry, spice, prune and pudding notes. Long, layered and mouth-filling, opulent, powerful and poised. No holding back here.”

5/5 Stars – Gavin Hubble

“On the nose enticing aromas of blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, red peppercorns, star anise and notes of vanilla spice from its time in oak. On the concentrated palate your senses are fully engaged by those intense dark fruits, black olives, toasted earthy spices and roasted coffee beans all supported by confident fruit tannins and the broad but understated oak framework. The generosity of all those wild dark berries has an appealing nature engaging all of your palate. While being kept in alignment due to the diligent French oak which engages your senses, the textural tannins and balanced oak lead onto a rewardingly long finish. Treat yourself - this wine is definitely worth sharing. Again this ‘Bogan’ does the Barossa proud.”

93 Points – James Halliday

“The wonderfully named The Bogan shiraz from Kaesler hails from 2 vineyards planted in 1899 (Marananga) and 1965 (Nuriootpa). As the name suggests, it’s a full-bodied, sinewy Barossa shiraz of substantial clout. Dark plum and blackberry fruits, dredged deep with spice, licorice and dark chocolate. There’s a sense of latent power and throaty, grainy tannins chug under the bonnet. Substantial.”